VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOINews, Jakarta - President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) on Thursday reviewed the prices of food commodities at Johar Market in Karawang, West Java.

Based on his review, he said that food prices in the market are stable.

In fact, the price of eggs in the market, which is usually above Rp30 thousand per kilogram, has now fallen to Rp26 thousand, he observed.

"We have checked and everything is good, only one (commodity) rice that prices have not gone down," he told reporters after inspecting the State Logistics Agency's (Bulog's) warehouse in Purwosari, West Java.

To check the spiraling price of rice, which has been triggered by a decline in production due to the El Nino phenomenon, the President has instructed Bulog to carry out market operations.

He has also asked that the operations be carried out in all places, from retail to wholesale.

"I have instructed the head of Bulog to carry out market operations not only in retail, not only at a wholesale market in Cipinang, but all places. Ask whatever (price) you give, but you have to pay," said the President.

Meanwhile, one of the rice merchants at Johar market, Halid Hamzah said that currently, the price of rice is increasing. According to him, the average price of rice has increased by Rp 2 thousand per kilogram.

"The average increase per kilogram has been almost Rp2 thousand, from the cheapest of Rp10 thousand to Rp12 thousand per kilogram. There has been an increase of Rp2 thousand per kilogram," he said. (Antaranews)